Story Idea, Where Are You?

Hard news reporters have it easy. They just hang around waiting for something bad to happen, and then go out to the scene and get the story. Well, OK, it's really not all that easy.

Carol O'NeillSage Editor

Hard news reporters have it easy. They just hang around waiting for something bad to happen, and then go out to the scene and get the story. Well, OK, it's really not all that easy.

But pity the poor feature writer. She has to come up with story ideas all by herself. If she's creative she has no problem. Then there's me.

If it weren't for being at the right place at the right time, I'd never have an idea what to write about. This happens to me all the time.

Back in May my old cat Scout was dying, and I had to make a few trips to the vet with her. On one of those veterinary visits, I shared the waiting room with a woman who had come in with her ill cockatiel Meshach. I noticed the woman wore an identification badge from Spruce Lake Retreat. She told me she worked with birds and reptiles in the nature center.

A few weeks later, it occurred to me that I should interview the woman with the bird and write about what she does at Spruce Lake. But I didn't know her name.

Fortunately, I know someone who works at Spruce Lake Retreat and could ask him. He knew who I was talking about and told me how to get in touch with her.

So, on a recent Saturday morning, I drove up to Spruce Lake Retreat in Canadensis to meet with Jana Atwell in the nature center. She had brought her red-tailed hawk to show me. And she gave me a tour of the nature center, where I got to inspect some reptiles up close, pet a corn snake and observe a tarantula from a safe distance.

It's moments like this that give me an appreciation for my job.

I hope you will enjoy reading about Jana and the Nature Center at Spruce Lake Retreat. This month's Sage contains our usual columns, giving you information about Ancestor Quest, Elder Law, Prime Time Health, Area Agency on Aging happenings and more.